Safety devices for oil burners



Aug. 23, 1966 D. E. scHoTT SAFETY DEVICES FOR OIL BURNERS :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1964 mv wm wwf.

v Nm m 5v 2m I itllnm- XM A m am vm. Y 2. u III l. W H. MhwWtV l l IIII: Y mm Il w m ll o ATTORNEYS Aug. 23, 1966 D. E. SCHOTT SAFETY DEVICES FOR OIL BURNERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1964 Aug. 23, 1966 D. E. scHoTT SAFETY DEVICES FOR OIL BURNERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 2, 1964 mm1 NN m O N @N o@ v9 BY s Mw ATT EYS United States Patent Office 3,267,988 Patented August 23, 1966 3,267,988 SAFETY DEVICES FOR OIL BURNERS Donald E. Schott, Emerson, NJ., assigner, by mesne assignments, to The Babcock & Wilcox Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 2, 1964, Ser. No. 371,999 A Claims. (Cl. 158-73) This invention relates to safety devices for use with oil .burners of the type employed in marine boiler furnaces and resides more particularly in a novel safety device for use with such a burnerwhich prevents removal of the burner from the furnace while oil is flowing to the burner and prevents the ow of oil through the device as soon as the burner is removed.

Marine boiler furnaces fired with oil are provided with a plurality of burners, not all of which are used except when the vessel is to be driven at the highest possible speed, .as in an emergency or in maneuvers. Under ordinary operating conditions, the burners not to be used must be pulled from the furnace, since, other- Wise, exposure to the burning oil in the furnace would cause their nozzles to be clogged with carbon. In naval vessels, the pulling of oil burners and their reinsertion in the furnaces may be of frequent occurrence and, since the burners are ordinarily supplied with oil at high temperatures and pressures, it is necessary to provide such burners with safety devices which prevent the pulling of the burners from the furnaces while oil is being supplied thereto.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a safety device for oil burners which receives a burner and contains a valve for controlling the flow of oil thereto; The device includes means for operating the valve and locking means actuated by the valve operatin-g means for preventing removal ofthe burner when the valve is open. The locking means is so constructed that, when the valve is closed, the burner may be readily removed from the device and the removal of the burner locks the valve operating means so that opening of the valve is prevented. In a modified construction for use with burners, in which steam is employed for atomization, the oil and steam are supplied to the burner under the control of separate valves which are opened and closed in unison. When the valves are opened, the locking means prevents removal of the burner and, when the valves are closed, the removal of the burner prevents the valve operating means from being manipulated to open the valves. Y

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 1--1 of FIG. 3 showing the new safety device in use with a burner of the steam atomization type;

FIG. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing the burner being withdrawn from the device;

.FIG. 3 is a view of the device of FIG. l in front elevation;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the l-ine 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 showing one of the valves in closed position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the valve open;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the control rod of the device showing a notch and a slot formed -in the rod;

FIG. 8 is a view of the rod at right angles to FIG.

7; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the rod showing another notch therein.

The safety device shown in the drawings comprises a housing, generally designated 10, having an upper section 11 with an opening 11a through which the tube of a burner may extend. A pair of arms 12 project upwardly from the upper housing section 11 and then divergently and the arms have openings for receiving headed supporting rods 13 projecting outwardly from the front of the boiler furnace in which the burner is to be used.

The housing has an intermediate section 14 containing a lengthwise opening in which is mounted a valve control rod 15. The rod has a pair of notches 15a spaced lengthwise of the rod and each is define-d in part by a cam surface 15b. A notch 15C of arcuate section is formed in the rod between the notches 15a and a slot 15d leads from the .top of the notch 15e. A handle 16 with a knob 17 at its end is attached to the rod F15 and extends through a bayonet slot having a section 14a extending lengthwise of the rod 15 and a section 14b lying at right angles thereto.

The housing includes a lower section 18 containing a pair of chambers '19, 20 closed at their lower ends by plugs 21 threaded into the housing. Each chamber is encircled by a valve seat 22 and a valve having a head 23 engageable with the seat from beneath and a stem 24 extending upwardly through the seat are disposed Within each chamber. Each valve is urged upwardly toward its seat by a spring 25 seated at its lower end on a plug 21 and having its upper end bearing against the under surface of the head 23 of the valve. The stem of each valve lies within a guide sleeve 26 mounted in a recess in the wall ofv a housing and, .when the valve is closed, the stem extends into the passageway containing the control rod 15 and lies within a notch 15a in the rod defined in part by a cam surface 15b. The stem of each valve is sealed in its sleeve 26 by .a resilient O-ring 27 of suitable material.

A passageway 28 for steam extends through one end of the lower section 18 of the housing to the chamber 19 and a passageway 29 extends from the valve seat 22 in the chamber I19 to the outer end of a neck 30 on the lower hou-sing section 18. A bushing 31 is threaded in the neck and projects beyond the end of the neck and the exposed part of the bushing has a pair of opposed flat surfaces 31a for the application of a wrench. Beyond these surfaces, the bushing is encircled by a channel containing a resi-lient O-ring 32 serving as a seal and the outer end section 33 of the bushing is beveled.

A passageway 34 `for oil extends through the other end of the lower housing section 1-8 into the chamber 20 and the housing contains a passageway 35 above the valve seat in chamber 20 and similar to the passageway 29. The passageway 35 1leads to the end of a neck similar to the neck `30 .and containing a bushing similar to the bushing 3-1 and lying parallel thereto.

The burner, with which the safety device is used, includes an atomizer body 36 having an opening, in which an outer burner tube 37 is threaded, and a second opening containing a sleeve 38 for receiving one end of an inner steam tube 39 encircled by Ian O-ring 40 serving as sealing means. At the bottom of the atomizer body near its ends, the body is provided with parallel necks 41 having openings containing sleeves 42 yfor receiving the ends of the bushings 31 projecting from the necks 30 on the valve housing 10. The atomizer body contains a passageway 43 leading from the opening in one of the necks 41 to a Chamber 44 open to the rear end vof the steam tube and a passageway 45 leading from the opening in the other neck 41 to a chamber 46 open to the rear end -of the oil burner tube 37. The front ends of the steam and oil tubes are provided with conventional atomizing means indicated generally at 47.

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When the burner is in place in the safety device, it is secured in position by means including :a pin 48 which has a head 49 on its outer end and extends through an opening in the atomizer body between the necks 41 and is held in place in the body by a set screw 50. The pin is received in a passageway extending through a neck 14C on the intermediate section 14 of the valve housing and into the housing and the pin has yan arcuate notch 48a in its upper surface near its inner end in position and of a shape to receive the rod 15. A latch 51 is mounted on a pivot 52 in a vertical slot 53 in the housing and is provided with a hook 51a engageable with a hook 54 on the rear end of lthe pin 48. A plug 55 in a bore in the housing is urged by a spring 56 in the bore into contact with the lower end of the latch and, when the latch is swung and the rod is in proper position, a finger 51h at the upper end of the latch is receivable in a slot 15d in the rod 15.

When the notch 15e on the rod and the notch 48a on the pin 'are in registry, the pin 48 is released and the atomizer body with the pin and the burner may be withdrawn from the valve housing. As the pin 48 is withdrawn with the housing, the engagement of hook 54 on the pin with hook 51a on the latch causes the latch to be swung so that the nger 5111 ou the latch will enter the slot 15d on the rod and the latch is then held in this position by the spring-pressed plug 55. When the finger lies within the slot 15d, the rod is held against axial movement.

The length of the burner tube 37 exposed between the atomizer body 36 and the end of the opening 11a in the valve housing 10, through which the tube extends, is encircledby a washer 57 and a spring 58. When the burner is secured in the device, the spring bears at one end against the housing and, at the other end, against *the washer and holds the washer against the valve housing to close the opening 11a -around the burner tube.

When the burner is to be inserted into the device, the control rod is at the inner end of the section 14a of the bayonet slot and the notch 15e on the rod is at the bottom thereof 4and in registry with the top of the opening in the neck 14e. The free end of the burner is then passed through the opening 11a in the upper section 11 of the housing and the pin is inserted into the opening through the neck 14e. As the atomizer body is moved toward the housing, the bushings 31 in the necks 30 on the body are inserted in the openings through the sleeves 42 and the movement of the body is continued until the ends of the necks 30 and 41 make Contact. Just before this occurs, the end of the pin will have swung lthe latch 51 to vertical position and the hook 54 on the pin will have entered into locking engagement with the hook 51a on the latch. The handle 16 is then moved to the outer end of the section 14a of the bayonet slot and this causes a solid portion of the rod 15 to enter the notch 48a. With the parts in this condition, the body cannot be moved away from the housing and the burner withdrawn Ifrom the furnace.

The movement of the handle 16 to the outer end of the section 14a of the bayonet slot moves the rod 15 so that its recesses 15a lie above the respective valve stems 24. When oil and steam are`to be supplied to the burner, the handle is moved to the remote end of the section 14b of the slot and this causes the cam surfaces 1Sb to bear against the ends of the valve stems 24 and gradually open the Valves. When the handle is at the end of section 1412 of the slot, the surface of the rod 15 is in engagement with the valve stems and holding the valves fully open, ias shown in FIG. 6.

It will be observed that, with the safety device constructed as described, the burner mounted therein cannot be removed while the valves are open, since, in order to open the valves, it is necessary that the control rod'15 be disposed in a position in which .a solid portion of the rod lies within a notch 48a of the pin and thus prevents the pin Fand the atomizer body from being moved away yfrom the valve housing. When the burner is to be removed, the handle 16 must first be swung to move the rod 15 angularly to a position in which the notches 15a lie above the valve stems 24 and the valves are then closed by Itheir springs 25. When the rod is in position to permit closing of the valves by their springs, the rod is in `such position that it can be moved angularly to place the notch 15C in the rod into registry with the notch 43a 4on the pin and the atomizer body with the burner tubes and pin attached may then kbe moved away from the housing.

I claim:

1. A safety device for an oil burner comprising a valve housing having a passageway for oil, a valve in the housing for controlling the ow of oil through the housing passageway, means tor securing .the housing and the burner together, means on the housing adapted to connect the passageway of said housing in iuid flow relationship rwith said burner, means carried by the housing for opening the valve, the securing and valve opening means having parts mechanically intel-locked to prevent the release of the securing means when the opening means has opened the valve, and means on the housing rendered effective by the release of the securing means to prevent the opening means from ibeing operated to open the valve.

2. The safety device of claim 1, in |which the securing means lincludes a pin connected with lthe burner and recei'vable in -an opening Iin the housing, .the pin having a notch entered by a part of the opening means to prevent withdrawal of the pin and connected burner when the opening means is in condition to open the valve.

3. The safety device of claim 11, in which the valve opening means lincludes a member movable to open the lvalve and rlatching means on the housing rendered oper.- able by the securing means as Vthe securing means is being disengaged, so as to prevent the member from being moved.

4. The safety device of claim '3, in which the member is movable angularly to open the 'valve and has a slot, and the latch is .pivoted and is swung -by the securing means to enter the slot as the securing means is being disengaged.

5. The safety device of claim 4, in Iwhich the securing means includes a pin connected with the lburner and receivable in an opening in the housing, and the pin is engageatble with the latch Jwhereby the latch is swung to enter the slot as the pin is withdrawn from the opening.

6. The safety device of claim 2, in which/the 'valve opening means includes a member movable to open the valve, the member having a part entering the notch in the piu during such movement of the member and preventing lwithdrawal of the pin.

7. The safety device of claim 2, in which the valve opening means includes a control rod movable between two positions and having a notch, the yrod in one of said positions lying within the notch in the pin and )being effective in the position to prevent withdrawal of Ithe pin, movement of the rod to its other position bringing the notches on the rod and pin into registry to permit withdrafwal of the pin.

8. The safety device of claim `1, in which the valve opening means includes a control rod movable ybetween two positions and having a cam surface and the valve has a stern engageable by the cam surface, movement of the rod .toward one position causing the cam surface to open the valve.

9. The safety device of claim 7, in which the valve has a stern and the rod is angularly movable and has a cam sunface engageable with the stem and operable to open the valve upon angular movement of the rod.

10. The safety ldevice of claim 7, in which the rod is movable endwise to move its notch into an-d out of registry with the notch in the pin and is also movable angularly, the valve has a stem, and the rod has a cam surface engage-able with the stern and operable to open the valve u-pon angular movement of the rod.

1-1. The safety device of cla-im 10, in which the rod has a slot, a latch pivotally mounted on the housing is movable into the slot to prevent axial movement of the rod, and means on the housing urges the latch to enter the slot in the rod.

12. The safety device of claim 1, in which the valve opening means includes a control rod having a slot, the securing means includes a pin connected to said burner and receivable in an opening in the housing, and a latch pivoted on the housing is movable -into `the slot in the rod to look the -rod against axial movement u-pon witbdrawal of the pin.

1=3. In combination, an oil burner including an atomizer body, a burner tube connected with said body, and an oil passageway in said body leading to said burner tube; a safety coupling including a valve housing having a passageway for oil, a valve in said housing for controlling the ow of oil through said housing passageway, and a control rod carried by said housing; means for connecting the passageway of said housing in dluid how relationship with the passageway in said body; and means for securing said housing land said body together including a pin connected with said body and having a notch formed Itherein, means forming a pin-receiving opening lin said housing, said opening being oriented to intersect with said control rod, means forming a notch in said control rod,

6 the notch in said control rod being registerable 'with the notch in said pin upon insertion of said pin into said opening, and means for moving said control rod in a direction to separate said notches whereby said pin is locked to said control rod.

14. The combination according to claim 13 further including means `for opening said valve comprising means connecting said control Irod with said valve, and means for movin-g said cont-rol rod in a direction diierent from said iirst named direction to open said Valve.

15. The combination according to claim I141 Where-in the means for moving said control rod in said diierent `directions are arranged to permit only predetermined sequential execution of the movements.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,276,424 3/11942 lSiversen et al. 158-73 2,857,128 10/1958 Sterm 158-73 FOREIGN PATENTS 177,856 3/1-922 `Great Britain.

FREDERICK L. MA'I'DESON, JR., Primary Examiner.

JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Examiner.

E. G. FAVORS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SAFETY DEVICE FOR AN OIL BURNER COMPRISING A VALVE HOUSING HAVING A PASSAGEWAY FOR OIL, A VALVE IN THE HOUSING FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF OIL THROUGH THE HOUSING PASSAGEWAY, MEANS FOR SECURING THE HOUSING AND THE BURNER TOGETHER, MEANS ON THE HOUSING ADAPTED TO CONNECT THE PASSAGEWAY OF SAID HOUSING IN FLUID FLOW RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SAID BURNER, MEANS CARRIED BY THE HOUSING FOR OPENING THE VALVE, THE SECURING AND VALVE OPENING MEANS 